THE battle between the Premiership's bottom two sides began in understandably low-key fashion at Highfield Road.

With relegation already a certainty, Coventry and Bradford had little to play for in what was a warm-up for next season's clashes between the clubs in Division One.

The first goal chance fell to Bradford, as early as the second minute. Ashley Ward, twisting in and out on the right flank, found himself free on goal but his low 10-yard strike was blocked by Chris Kirkland.

The hosts lined up without Paul Telfer, who had suffered a leg fracture in Coventry's 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa. Marc Edworthy stepped in.

The Bantams continued with veteran keeper Aidan Davidson, with Gary Walsh still troubled by a knee injury, and Stuart McCall and Andy Myers, whose brief sparring match in the drubbing at Leeds last weekend brought them hefty club fines, both started.

Indeed Bradford were enjoying a substantial amount of possession in the early stages.

Robbie Blake tested Kirkland with a powerful drive and Benito Carbone was as ever employing his penetrating array of dribbling skills on the right.

Coventry were forced to wait until the 21st minute before Aidan Davison was seriously called into action, with Ysrael Zuniga stinging his fingertips with a high drive from 25 yards, although John Hartson was perhaps better placed in the centre to genuinely threaten the opener.

The beginnings of a Mexican wave in the stands after half-an-hour provided confirmation, not that any were needed, that any entertainment at Highfield Road in the first half was not to be found on the pitch.

Carbone briefly retrieved the crowd's attention with a clever turn and shot that soared harmlessly high. But even the presence of boss Gordon Strachan on the touchline, notepad and pen in hand, failed to provide much incentive for the hosts, some of whom were perhaps playing for their futures at the club.

Even John Hartson, so nearly the saviour of the Sky Blues' season, looked sluggish and fluffed a point-blank chance that three weeks ago he would have gobbled up in a flash.

Seconds after the restart Coventry were presented with a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock. But after Mustapha Hadji's inswinging free-kick, Hartson was again unusually slack as he prodded a free header straight into the arms of Davison.

After 57 minutes it was Youssef Chippo's turn to waste a good opportunity as he found the keeper's legs when clear through on the left.

A minute later Zuniga, who to his credit was charging around with much enthusiasm, broke down the centre right and unleashed a decent shot that flew just high of Davison's left stanchion.

Coventry were seemingly beginning to pick up the pace and after 66 minutes should have established a lead through Hartson. Yet again however the big Welshman failed to hit the target, this time after Zuniga's pass, as he dragged a low shot wide.

Coventry and Bradford played out their Premiership swansong in dull fashion at Highfield Road.

With both sides already relegated, the game was effectively a warm-up for First Division life next season.

But any hopes their season would go out with a bang were dashed in a largely forgettable contest.